The Iran Podcast

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe, and their member of parliament Tulip Siddiq, about Nazanin's five-year detention in Iran, the pattern of hostage diplomacy by the Iranian government, the UK's £400m tank debt to Iran, and a family's years-long fight for freedom. (Music by 127 Band - Design by Mina Jafari) 

Negar Mortazavi talks to Tyler Cullis about four decades of U.S. sanctions on Iran, the effectiveness of this policy tool, the human cost of sanctions, and how the Iranian-Americna community and the civil society have been pushing back against sanctions.

Negar Mortazavi talks to Sina Toosi about the upcoming presidential election in Iran, the mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates, and how the hardliner Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi is seen as the candidate set to win the race.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to comedian Maz Jobrani about comedy in the Covid19 era, being an immigrant in America and a Middle Easterner in Hollywood, and how Maz lost some friends and fans in the Trump era.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN, about the latest cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, what the United States can do to help improve human rights and peace across the Middle East, and the Biden administration’s policy towards friends and foes in the region. Iran Podcast is produced by Joshua Barlow. Theme music is by 127. Logo art is by Mina Jafari. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theiranpodcast/support

Negar Mortazavi speaks to political anthropologist Negar Razavi about the systemic problem of “Iran expertise” in Washington, how the U.S. foreign policy establishment has created a culture of expert impunity when it comes to Iran, the role of these experts and think tanks in shaping U.S. policies, and why those who provide nuance on Iran are constantly attacked and smeared.

Foreign Policy magazine has a podcast called Foreign Policy Playlist, which picks the best podcasts from around the world and introduces them to their listeners. And our Iran Podcast was recently featured on Foreign Policy Playlist. Jonathan Tepperman, Editor at Large of Foreign Policy, talked to Negar Mortazavi about the Iran Podcast, then played one of our episodes: The Ayatollahs No Longer Differ, a conversation with Hooman Majd.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Congressman Ro Khanna about U.S. policy in the Middle East, the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Iran, the impact of U.S. sanctions on tech companies and users, increasing toxicity on social media and platform accountability, the rise of far right extremism in the United States, and the chances of Donald Trump becoming President again.

Negar Mortazavi speaks to Terrell Starr, host of the Black Diplomats podcast, about US foreign policy and media. Then we will hear an episode of his podcast about Building Peace with Iran, where Negar Mortazavi was a guest.

Negar Mortazavi speaks with Roya Khadjavi, a New York-based curator who showcases young and emerging artists from Iran. Roya talks about her mission to introduce new generations of Iranian artists to the West, and how US-Iran tensions impact her work and the life of these young artists.